Hmmm. Who’s the real junkie? The pop, chip and chocolate bar junkfood lover or the vending machine that sells the items?
We all know how handy these beacons of self-indulgence are in staving off the mid-afternoon blues, but recent green sentiment is pointing an accusing finger at vending machines for being energy-junkies.
It’s something that seems to be high on the mind of Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly. He’s considering a bylaw amendment that would require all vending machines in the city to be fitted with energy-saving devices. According to a city staff report, one vending machine alone is indirectly responsible for four tones of CO2 emissions annually.
Kelly claims that the energy-saving devices would greatly reduce the electricity needed to operate the machines, and he’s asking for the help and cooperation of snack food giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
Interestingly, PepsiCo began testing ‘green’ vending machines last year in the Washington, D.C. area and has plans to extend their use worldwide over the next few years. Working with Greenpeace Solutions, they’ve tried to promote an environmentally-responsible image by introducing machines that use 15 percent less energy than previous machines and that emit about 12 percent less greenhouse gas, using carbon dioxide to keep drinks cool instead of the usual ozone villains, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Coca-Cola followed a similar path and introduced HFC-free vending machines in Britain, and also used them at the Beijing Olympics. The new vending machines have another bonus: they will save businesses money on their electric bills.
It’s good to know that besides having that mid-afternoon sugar-craving ‘munchies’ attack on the mind, there’s still room for concern for the environment. Perhaps one day the two can exist harmoniously with the invention of zero-emissions vending machines. Until then, any progress to green our snack-food addiction is welcome.
